Back curtain for automobile-tops.



0. R. OVERMYER. BACK cum/um FOR AUTOMOBILE TOPS.

' APPLICATION FILED IAN-23.1917- 1 I 131,100.. Patented Jan.14,1919.

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o. R. OVERMYER. BACK QURTAIN FOR AUTOMOBILE TOPS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-23. I9I7- I Patented J 111.14, 1919.

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DETROIT, MIGHIG, A CODRAIIQN HF MICHIdd.

HAG CURTAIN FF. AUTOMQBILE-TOPF.

Specification or tettera Batent.

Patented Jan. it, 191a.

Application filed Tannery 23, 1017. serial No. 148,895.

To all whom it may concern:

Fe it lrnown that l, O'rHo R. Overtime,

a citizen of the llnited States, residing at' Detroit, Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Back Curtains for Automobile-Tops, of which the following is a clear, full, and exact description. This invention relates to an improved back curtain for automobile tops of the type which consists of a framework of bows and sockets covered with a fabric and used on open bodies.

Une of the objects of this invention is.

to provide an improved back curtain which may be fastened to the upper edge of the body in such a way that the fastening means is not visible. Another object is to provide a back curtain which may be easily fastened to the upper ed e of the body and which can be readily re-a justed to talre care of shrinkage of the material.

it till another object is to provide a back curtain which may be easily and cheaply constructed and attached to the upper edge of the car body.

These being among the objects of the present invention, the same consists of certain features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and then claimed with reference to the accompanying k v drawins which illustrate a suitable emboditain as seen from the outside of the car.

Fig. 2 is a view showing one of the lower corners of the hack curtain as seen from. the forward side.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view talren on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. l is a view showing the entire lower edge of the curtain as seen from the forward side.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are sectional views taken on the lines (Ir-a, b-h and c--c respectively of Fig. 4. I v Fig. 8 is a view showing the lower part of the curtain in a partially finished condition as seen from -the forward side. The collapsible framework is so well known that a detail showing is unnecessary, but the rear 7 how 9 is, however, shown partly infull lines and partly in dotted lines.

The means used for attaching the improved back curtain to the automobile body 18 shown in Fig. l in which one of the lower corners of the curtain is represented as being raised to disclose the flap which is ordinarily invisible. This flap is stitched to the curtain and is arranged to hang between the curtain and the bod to which it is attached by the tacks 1.1. t is found advisable to extend the flap'through a portion only of the width of the curtain so that the lower corners of the curtain may be separated from the body to give,access to the back stay straps shown partly full lines and partly in dotted. lines w ich may require ad ustment and also to allow the side curterms to be ap lied, lapping inside the forward edges 0 the back curtains It should be stated that'said back stay straps serve the well known purpose of holding the rear bow of the frame down against the tension of the deck of the automobile" top so that the back curtain is relieved of strain and they are not intended to nor do they perform the function of the parts constituting the present invention. Turn-button fasteners 21 are provided at the extreme corners of the curtain to hold these parts of the back our tain against the body and also to secure the lower rear corners of the side curtains.

The flap 10 is usually made of the same material as that in the body of the curtain, but may be of other suitable material if desired. This material is disposed in three layers as shown in Fig. 3, two of these layers being folded together to form the flap-while the third is stitched flat upon the body of the curtain to form a reinforcement along the lower edge of the curtain, the whole being held in place by the four lines of stitching 12,13, It and 15.

As shown in Fig. 8, the two lines of stitching l4: and 15 along the lower edge of the curtain and the upper line l2 appronimately at the middle of the width of the strip of material stitched upon the curtain, are put in first. The flap is then folded as shown at 17 and again folded just above the line of stitching 12 so that it lies flat npon the curtain in its normal position. The line of stitching 18 is then added as shown in Fig. 2 which completes the flap, this line of stitching being located so as to pass through both thicknesses of the flap as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. By this ethod of llli ltlll manufacture, the flap is firmly secured to the curtain and the raw edges of the material found that, if this is done, there is a tendnear the top of the flap are concealed.

As explained above, it is desirable to leave the lower corners of the curtain free from the body for a certain distance and it is ency for the curtain to lose its shape in service. Stifl'eners 16 are consequently used to stiffen the curtain at these points and hold it in its original shape. As shown in Fig. 3, the stifi'eners are placed between the curtain proper and the material used for the flap and reinforcement and extend inward from the I lower corners of the curtain to points beyond the end of the flap as shown in Fig. 4.

If it is found deslrable at any time to re-adjust the back curtain so as to cominvention as expressed in the claims.

What I claim as new is 1. In an automobile top, a back curtain, a strip of fabric extending for a substantial distance, with respect to the width of said curtain, along the inner surface of-the lower edge of said curtain, stitching extending longitudinally of and approximately at the middle of the width ofsaid strip, whereby said strip is attached to said curtain, the portion of said strip beyond said stitching being folded back over said stitching longitudinally,'thereby providing a flap suitable 'for attaching to an automobile body, and

stitching extending below aforesaid stitching along the lower edge of said curtain, and securing to said edge that portion of said strip w ich lies directly against said edge.

2. In an automobile top, a back curtain and a strip of fabric extending transversely across said back curtain near its lower edge said strip being, in part, a reinforcement of said curtain and, in part, a flap adapted for removably fastening said curtain to an automobile body, said reinforcement extending across the entire width of said curtain and said flap extending through the major portion of said width of said curtain only, and stiflening materlal between said curtain and said reinforcement extending from the lower corners of said curtain, approximately to the adacent ends of said flap.

igned at Detroit, Mich., this 2nd day of January, 1917.

OTHO R. OVERMYER. Witnesses A. P. HASCALL, ALFRED H. Kmcn'r. 

